Architectural SME - AI Data Centers

Jacobs; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 191,000 - 263,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Senior Architectural SME for data centers to provide technical leadership across U.S. projects, guiding design strategy, delivery excellence, and coordination of complex MEP systems.

The role emphasizes client-facing leadership, innovation, and mentorship within mission-critical facilities. Ideal candidates have direct data center experience, licensed RA status, and a track record delivering hyperscale or colocation projects, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture and 20+ years of architectural design experience.
• 15+ years in mission-critical/data center environments with leadership exposure.
• Licensed Architect (RA) with strong knowledge of codes, ADA, and sustainability.
• Expertise in site planning, envelope design, modular construction, and BIM coordination.
• Proven record of technical innovation solving client challenges.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and multitasking skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior architectural authority across multiple programs and guide design quality.
• Shape upfront planning strategies with hyperscale clients and drive design excellence.
• Coordinate architectural, structural, and MEP disciplines for mission-critical facilities.
• Represent Jacobs in client engagements, industry forums, and pursuits with technical insight.

Skills

Architectural design

Data center experience

Licensed Architect (RA)

BIM coordination

Site planning

Envelope design

Modular construction

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture

Tools

Revit

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

This job opportunity is available at ANY location in the United States. Ideally, selected candidates will be near a JACOBS U.S. based office, but we intend to hire the \"best\" candidates.

Senior Architectural SME – Data Centers (Advanced Manufacturing)

Jacobs is trusted in designing and deliver some of the world’s most complex mission critical facilities. As a leader in advanced manufacturing and hyperscale data center design, we partner with global technology and colocation clients to shape next generation, AI-enabled data centers where resiliency, scalability, sustainability, and precision are essential.

We are seeking a Senior Architectural Subject Matter Expert (SME) to provide technical leadership and strategic direction across our U.S. data center portfolio. This role blends deep architectural expertise with client-facing leadership, influencing design strategy, delivery excellence, and technical differentiation on some of the industry’s most demanding programs. The opportunity is available nationwide, with flexibility to align to a Jacobs office location.

Required Background

Direct AI, Hyperscale, or Colocation data center design experience is strongly preferred. Candidates should possess experience leading the architectural delivery of mission‑critical facilities and coordinating highly complex MEP, telecommunications, security, and operational infrastructure requirements.

This position is intended for senior architects with direct experience delivering AI, Hyperscale, Colocation data centers, semiconductor facilities, or comparable mission‑critical industrial projects. Architectural experience limited to commercial buildings, mixed‑use developments, residential, hospitality, healthcare, education, government, retail, or other conventional building types will generally not be considered equivalent to the mission‑critical facility experience required for this role. Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated data center project experience supporting hyperscale cloud, colocation, or advanced technology clients.

Technical Leadership & Design Excellence

You will serve as a senior architectural authority across multiple programs, guiding design quality and consistency while advancing Jacobs’ architectural standards for mission critical facilities. This includes shaping upfront planning strategies with hyperscale clients, leading site and building design, and driving innovation in modularization, envelope systems, sustainability, and integrated building systems. You will ensure code compliance, constructability, and coordination across architectural, structural, and MEP disciplines.

Strategic & Client Impact

As a visible technical leader, you will represent Jacobs’ design expertise in client engagements, industry forums, and strategic pursuits. Partnering closely with business development and delivery teams, you will help win and shape complex, high value data center programs through technical insight, design leadership, and clear articulation of value.

Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing

This role plays a critical part in developing Jacobs’ architectural talent. You will mentor architects across the data center practice, contribute to internal and external thought leadership, and support Jacobs’ presence within professional and industry organizations.

Program Support & Delivery

Balancing strategy with hands on involvement, you will support design reviews, quality assurance, and construction administration across multiple concurrent projects. The role requires the ability to manage parallel priorities while maintaining technical rigor in fast paced, schedule driven environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture.
• 20+ years of experience in architectural design, with 15+ years in mission‑critical/data center environments.
• Licensed Architect (RA) with strong knowledge of building codes, ADA, and sustainability frameworks.
• Proven expertise in site planning, envelope design, modular construction, and BIM coordination.
• Proven record of technical innovation solving client's challenges.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and multi‑tasking skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data center clients.
• Involvement in LEED, WELL, or other sustainability certifications.
• Familiarity with high‑security and high‑resiliency design principles.
• Vendor coordination and construction‑phase support experience.

Work Environment

• Primarily office‑based with occasional travel to data center sites and client locations.
• Travel up to 25% based on project and business needs.
• On‑call availability for critical design support or client engagements.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well‑being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full‑time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $191,300.00 to $263,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Job posted on May 06, 2025. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.